India News : Following the alleged paper leak controversy in the NEET-UG Examination, the government is considering unprecedented measures to ensure that the re-examination scheduled for June 21 is conducted in a completely secure and foolproof manner.
According to official sources, the government is seriously evaluating the option of using Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft to transport question papers safely to examination centers across the country.
High-level meeting chaired by Rajnath Singh
A high-level meeting was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Rajnath Singh. The meeting was attended by Dharmendra Pradhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia, among other senior officials.
Sources said discussions focused on whether Air Force aircraft could be used to transport examination papers securely for the June 21 re-test.
Final decision likely from PM Modi
No final decision has been taken yet. The proposal is expected to be placed before Narendra Modi for approval.
Sources also claim that the Prime Minister is personally monitoring preparations for the re-examination and receiving regular updates on security arrangements and logistical planning.
Focus on strengthening the entire examination process
The meeting also reviewed several aspects of the examination system, including:
- Preparation of question papers by experts and teachers
- Secure printing of examination papers
- Transportation to custody centers
- Security arrangements until the papers reach examination centers
Officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA), including Director General Abhishek Singh, were present during the discussions.
Timeline of events
- May 3: NEET-UG examination conducted in 551 Indian cities and 14 international centers, with around 2.3 million registered candidates.
- May 7: NTA reportedly received information regarding alleged irregularities and possible misconduct.
- May 8: The agency shared the inputs with central agencies for independent verification.
- May 12: NTA cancelled the examination amid allegations of paper leaks and announced a re-test on June 21.
CBI investigation and arrests
Based on a complaint from the Higher Education Department of the Education Ministry, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case and launched a nationwide investigation.
Special teams conducted raids across several cities, leading to the arrest of 13 accused individuals so far.
The arrests have been made in:
- Delhi
- Jaipur
- Gurugram
- Nashik
- Pune
- Latur
- Ahilya Nagar
According to the CBI, investigators have already identified the alleged source of the paper leak, and further investigation is underway.
The proposed use of Air Force aircraft highlights the government’s efforts to restore confidence in the examination process and prevent any security lapses during the upcoming re-test.
